ORION AUGUST 2019

Testing 1, 2, 3: Passes Moon Mission Trials ORION’S SERVICE MODULE COMPLETES CRITICAL PROPULSION TEST

On Aug 5., engineers at NASA’s White Sands Test simultaneously. Each of the six reaction control thrusters Facility near Las Cruces, New Mexico, tested the Orion were also periodically fired throughout the test to simulate spacecraft’s service module with a ground-based firing of attitude control and overall propulsion system capacity. its propulsion and pressurization systems. At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the recently completed The 12-minute firing simulated an abort-to-orbit scenario crew module and service module are being stacked and – in which the system would fire long enough to place processed for future integration with the Space Launch Orion in a safe, temporary orbit in the event of an issue System (SLS) rocket for Artemis I, the first, full-test flight setting Orion in the precise trajectory required to get of the SLS and Orion as it is sent around the Moon. The to the Moon. That temporary orbit would allow time to uncrewed test will precede Artemis II, the first flight with evaluate the crew and spacecraft before deciding to aboard, and both will pave the way for the first either continue with an alternate mission profile or return woman and the next man to land on the Moon by 2024, to Earth. while preparing for future missions to Mars.

A test version of the propulsion system was used to fire Watch the full test video: https://go.nasa.gov/2OjhCaL Orion’s main engine and all eight of its auxiliary engines ORION HOT FIRE TEST BLAZES A SAFE TRAIL FOR NASA MISSIONS TO THE MOON

The attitude control motor designed to help the Orion attitude control motor (ACM) produces more than 7,000 spacecraft’s Launch Abort System steer Orion and pounds of thrust from eight valves to steer Orion and its its crew to safety in an emergency during launch was crew to a safe distance in case of an abort. Once the final successfully tested on Aug. 22 by engineers at Northrop qualification test is completed later this year, the ACM Grumman’s facilities in Elkton, Maryland. motor will be certified for future crewed flights.

The 30-second trial by fire was the second to last test Watch the test here: https://youtu.be/-V2WZ5tApoc before it is fully qualified for human space flight on Artemis II—Orion’s first mission with astronauts. Orion’s ARMSTRONG TEAM PLAYS CRITICAL ROLE IN AA-2 FLIGHT TEST

Pictured L to R: Griff Corpening, Pat Soliker, David McBride, Don Reed

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center staff were in the On Aug. 28, AA-2 Flight Test Manager Don Reed and control rooms when the agency successfully tested the Deputy Manager Griff Corpening presented an award to Orion spacecraft’s launch abort system during the Ascent the AA-2 DFI team for their work on the flight test. Center Abort-2 (AA-2) flight test at Cape Canaveral, Florida on Director David McBride and Deputy Director Pat Soliker July 2. The system is designed to take astronauts to safety also accepted an AA-2 award for the Center. in case of an emergency during ascent.

About a dozen people from the California NASA center were monitoring systems the team had developed and tested. Armstrong had a number of tasks for the AA-2 flight test, which was a key milestone in preparation for Artemis missions to the Moon, eventually leading to missions to Mars.

Team members made critical contributions to the Orion AA-2 Developmental Flight Instrumentation (DFI) subsystem. This crucial subsystem collected and transmitted all of the engineering data and onboard video that will allow the Orion AA-2 engineering team to determine whether or not the 38 mission objectives were successfully achieved. NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s AA-2 DFI team COLORADO AND TEXAS TEAMS CONDUCT ASCENT SIMULATION

Teams from Colorado and Texas conducted a flight During the mission rehearsal simulation, teams rehearsed simulation in late August, testing out preliminary flight preliminary flight procedures, flight rules, telemetry displays, procedures for the Artemis I mission. The test, also known console tools, team communication and recognition and as the Artemis I Ascent Simulation #2A, was led by the response to in-flight failures. The simulation consisted Flight Control Team in the Mission Control Center in of three ascent “runs.” These tests were created using a Houston, Texas, and the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage program package known as “SOCRRATES” to simulate the (ICPS) support team at United Launch Alliance in Denver, Orion crew and service module performance in conjunction Colorado. with previously recorded trajectory and telemetry.

Congressman Randy Weber (R-TX-14th District) visits with Orion Orion Assistant Manager for Strategy Integration Paul Marshall Program Manager Mark Kirasich and checks up on Orion progress met with Senator Ted Cruz’ (R-TX) Authorization Committee during his trip to NASA’s on Aug. 30. staffer Dunkin Rankin, during his visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center on Aug. 22. SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT AEROSPACE ENGINEERING CORP.

Aerospace Engineering Corp. (AEC) is a small business shear panels, mid and forward ring segments, clevis company located in Brea, California, that is rising as upper struts, aeroseals, deflectors, longerons and one of the leading suppliers for NASA’s future space the aft interstage. endeavors. As a member of the Orion spacecraft team, AEC was selected for the critical task of building the 205-piece 16.5 feet diameter titanium support structure (pictured here) for the largest heat shield on the planet. This structure maintains the integrity of the heat shield during re-entry through the atmosphere at about 25,000 miles per hour. It can withstand surface temperatures of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit during re-entry and more than 300,000 pounds of force during landing.

AEC’s contribution to the Orion program goes beyond the heat shield support structure and includes many other key articles such as the astronaut console, aft gussets,

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